Rotary putty removing tool



Nov. 25, 1958 v c. J. EB EL 2,861,323

ROTARY PUTTY REMOVING TOOL Filed March 14, 1956 QA/m/czjfba ROTARY PUTTYREMOVING TOOL Clarence J. Ebel, St. Paul, Minn. Application March 14,1956, Serial No.'571,452

6 Claims. (Cl. 29-103 The present invention relates to novel devicessuitable for removing sealing putty and the like from around the edgesof putty-sealed window panes. In particular, my invention pertains to asmall inexpensive rotary tool, suitable for use in connection withrotary power means, for mechanically removing putty and like sealantsfrom windows without danger of breakage of the window panes.

Most windows, particularly wood-frame windows, consist of a frame with aglass pane or panes fitted therein and retained by clips or pins driveninto the frame. The window is then sealed to prevent the passage of airtherethrough between the frame and the edges of the glass panes.Ordinarily a sealant in the nature of a putty composition, whichinitially is of a doughy consistency permitting it to be worked intoplace, is applied around the edges of the panes for this purpose.Gradually, the applied putty sets-up to a rather hard firm state inadherence with both the pane and window frame.

What it is necessary to replace a window pane in its frame, or when theputty composition is partially deteriorated or cracked and must beentirely replaced, the hardened putty composition must first bethoroughly removed from the frame. It is to a device for safelymechanically removing this putty with which my invention is mostconcerned.

Prior to the present invention, even in the present highly mechanizedage, hardened putty generally has been removed from windows by crudelaborious hand methods. To my knowledge no really effective mechanicalmethod has been heretofore devised which permits removal of the puttywithout extreme danger of the breakage of the glass panes. Such manualmethods include hand scraping the hardened putty away with a tool knownas a putty knife. Sometimes the putty is first loosened by playing aflame on the putty so as to partially decompose it, rendering it moreeasily scraped away thereafter. Solvents are sometimes used.Disadvantages of these modes are apparent. Scraping operations are timeconsuming and arduous. Preliminary flaming or solvent applicationprocedures are messy, incovenient and often cause permanent damage tothe window frame.

The present invention, therefore, has for an object the elimination ofthese and other difliculties which reside in prior art methods. Anotherobject of the present invention is to provide novel means which makepossible the removal of putty and similar compositions from windowsrapidly, with a minimum of physical effort and without danger of glassbreakage. A further object is to provide a novel inexpensive rotary toolwhich is suitable for use in connection with power rotation means, suchas a portable electric drill, in the removal of hardened putty fromwindows by mechanical means withoutdanger of cracking or shattering theglass panes.

In attaining these and other objects and advantages I provide a rotarybody having an axially perpendicular end face at one end and a series ofperipheral cutting edges extending along the body adjacent the said oneend.

Means are provided for connecting the body for axial end thereof anaxially 'Yet the cap 15 2,86l323 Patented Nov. 25, 1958 2 rotation withpower rotation means. Afiixed to the said one end of the body are thintough slippery shockabsorbent protective means which prevent the bodyand/ or or the said cutting edges from striking a pane of glass when thetool is employed in putty removal operations.

Illustrative embodiments of the present invention will now be describedin connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a view in perspective of a rotary putty removing tool of thepresent invention; and

Figure 2 is an exploded view in elevation illustrating one constructionof my rotary putty removing tool.

Referring now toFigure 1, a cylindrically shaped body 19 formed ofhardened tool steel and having at the free perpendicular end face isprovided with a series of three equidistantly positioned peripheralflutes 11 which extend along the body 10 to the said one end parallel tothe rotary axis of the body. The flutes 11 are separated by lands 12.Each of said flutes has an identical curved V-shaped cross-section, asshown, with one wall thereof intersecting the surface of the body It) atan acute angle so as to define a cutting edge 13. A shank 14 extendsfrom the other end of the body 10 coaxially therewith. The unattachedend of the shank i4 is adapted to fit into the chuck of a portableelectric power drill. A thin protective shock-absorbent cap 15 having aperipheral shape identical with that of the free end of the body 10 isfirmly affixed to the perpendicular end face in registry therewith. Saidcap 15 is composed of a tough resilient slippery material to behereinafter more specifically described.

When used in putty removing operations, the free end of the shank 14 ofmy rotary tool is inserted in the chuck of suitable portable powerrotation means, such as a portable electric drill. With the toolrotating at high speed in the direction of the arrow, the assembly ismanipulated such that the peripheral surface of the body 10 is pressedagainst the hardened putty to be removed from a window with the cap 15adjacent to or in contact with the glass pane. The peripheral cuttingedges 13 rapidly abrade and cut away the putty leaving a cleanedsurface. As the tool lays bare the pins or clips retaining the window inplace, it is momentarily moved away while the pins or clips are pulledfree from the frame with pliers or other suitable instrument.

No danger of breakage of the glass panes is present when my device isused. Even if the assembly is manipulated such that the corner edges ofthe tool strike the pane, the shock-absorbent cap 15 effectively absorbsforces of impact and shock which would otherwise be transmitted to, andthereby crack or shatter, the glass. is sufliciently thin that thecutting edges 13 of the body 10 of the tool may be pressed close to thesurface of the glass itself so as to remove any putty exist ing near thejuncture of the pane and the frame. In this manner hardened puttycompositions are easily, safely and quickly removed. It is seldomnecessary to perform any other operations than merely wiping away theabraded material.

Although substantially any size or shape of tool may be employed, foroptimum results a happy medium should be drawn between the number ofcutting edges, width of lands therebetween and the diameter and lengthof the tool. Nor need the body 10 be exactly cylindrical.

For example, a body having a flared free end may be used. A preferredembodiment of my putty removing tool has short cylindrical body having adiameter of about one inch and a length ofabout inch. Each of the fluteshave a width at the periphery of inch anda depth of about 71 inch. Theacute angle between the landsurface and the flute wall defining thecutting sui' face'is about 60 degrees. Shank diameter is /1 inch,although this is relatively unimportant. The thickness of the thinshock-absorbent cap is inch. Itwill be seen from this description thatthe width of each land is about inch. In the interest of having a smoothrunning device, I prefer that the Width of land be considerably greaterthan the flute width.

It is not necessary that the flutes extend parallel with the body axis.They may extend spirally about the body. In fact, I find it preferableto employ a tool having flutes extending in a spiral direction oppositeto that of the rotational direction where the putty being removed isstill somewhat soft and pasty. The removed putty, which might ordinarilytend to stick in the flutes and clog the tool, is pushed along thespiral flutes and out the rear of the tool by the pressure or" newlyremoved material. Whether parallel with the axis or spiral, the fluteswill, of course, always extend along the body generally in an axialdirection.

Although I prefer that the cap have a peripheral configuration identicalwith that of the free end of the body, it is not essential that it doso. For example, it may be circular in shape. However, the cap area mustbe sufficient to prevent edges of the body from contacting the glasspane.

The shock-absorbent cap is composed of a material or composition whichis resilient and tough. It thus effectively absorbs the stresses due toshock and impact, without rapidly wearing out, as the edges of the toolstrike the glass. The surface of the cap is slippery; that is, itreadily slips or slides on the surface of the glass pane when the toolis rotated thereagainst. The material is suificiently heat-resistantsuch that it does not unduly soften and become tacky due to frictionalheat evolved during putty removal operations.

Several compositions suitably exhibit these several highly desirablecharacteristics. For example, caps of molded synthetic polyamide resins,fibers of which are known as nylon fibers, are highly suitable.Similarly, molded polymethylene terephthalate resins, from which Dacronand Mylar fibers and films are formed, provide especially suitable caps.In these instances the shock-absorbent caps are molded to the desiredshape without any attempt to physically orient the molecular structureof the resins. Certain of the harder rubber compositions are also highlysatisfactory. However, rubber compositions, in order to be sufficientlyslippery should have incorporated therein a small amount of lubricatingcompound, such as graphite or the like. One rubber composition fromwhich satisfactory shockabsorbent caps may be formed consists of themolded heat-cured product of 100 parts of crude rubber, 20 parts ofphenol-aldehyde resin, 50 parts of zinc oxide, 45 partsof carbon black,5 parts of graphite and 5 parts of sulfur. The composition is blended ina mogul-type mixer and added to a mold and cured therein to the desiredshape for about '30 minutes at a temperature of 350 F.

The cap may be aflixed to the body by any suitable means. Figure 2 showsone preferred manner of affixing the shock-absorbent means to the body.An internally threaded recess extends into the body from the axiallyperpendicular end face. The shock-absorbent cap correspondingly isprovided with a threaded portion 16 designed to fit into the internallythreaded recess of the body 19 and is affixed the body by turning thethreaded portion 16 into the recess. The cap is molded such that whenthe cap is turned up tight the periphery thereof is in registry withthat of the free end or" the body 10. If desired, the cap may be moldedwith a circular periphery, the notches corresponding to 'the flutes 11being cut out after the cap has been turned into place. Thread directionis opposite to that of the direction of rotation of .the tool inoperation. Thus when used in putty removal operations the torsionalforces 4 exerted upon the cap 15' tend to cause it to be tightenedrather than loosened.

Other modes of aflixing the shock-absorbent cap 15 to the body 10 arealso satisfactory. For example the cap may be adhered to the body bymeans of a suitable adhesive composition. Or a combination adhesivecomposition and threaded joint may be employed. One suitable adhesive isa composition containing a rubbery butadieneacrylonitrile copolymer anda heat-advancing phenol-aldehyde resin, the ratio between the copolymerand resin being about four parts of the former to one part of the.latter. Such an adhesive is most advantageously employed in the form ofa viscous solution. It is first applied to the surfaces to be adhered,followed by assembly of the tool. Then, while the cap is pressed to thebody under moderate pressures, such as are attained through the use ofthe common (t-clamp, the

. tool is heated at a sutficient temperature and for a sufficiently longtime to cure or set the adhesive, a temperature of 250-300 F. for 10-20minutes being sufficient in the instance of the adhesive compositionabove specified. This adhesive composition is particularly suitablewhere the cap consists of a rubber composition similar to that abovedescribed. It 'is also effective when the cap is formed of a polyamideresin.

My invention has been described with the aid of specific illustrativeembodiments. However, it is not my intention to be limited to these. Allvariations and modifications within the scope of the specification andclaims are contemplated, including equivalent embodiments novel over theprior art.

I claim:

1. A rotary tool suitable for use, in connection with power rotationmeans, in the removal of sealing putty and the like from windows, saidtool comprising a rotary body having an axially perpendicular end faceat the free end thereof and a series of peripheral cutting edgesextending along said body adjacent said free end, means for connectingsaid body for axial rotation with power rotation means, and toughslippery shock-absorbent protective means affixed to said face forpreventing said cutting edges from striking a pane of glass when saidtool is employed in putty removal operations.

2. The rotary tool of claim 1 wherein said tough slipperyshock-absorbent protective means comprises a synthetic resincomposition.

3. A rotary tool suitable for use, in connection with power rotationmeans, in the removal of sealing putty and the like from Windows, saidtool comprising a rotary body having an axially perpendicular end faceat the free end thereof and a series of peripheral flutes extendingalong said body adjacent said free end defining peripheral cuttingedges, a shank rigidly attached to and extending co-axially with saidbody adapted to connect with power rotation means, and thin toughslippery shock-absorbent protective means afiixed to said face forpreventing said cutting edges from striking a pane of glass when saidtool is employed in putty removal operations.

4. A rotary putty removing tool comprising a rotary body having anaxially perpendicular end face at the free end thereof and a series ofhard non-yielding periphorally acting cutting edges extending along theperiphery of said body from said free end, a thin tough resilientslippery shock-absorbent protective cap concentrically affixed to andcovering said end face, the surface of said cap opposite to that in co-ntact with said body being approximately parallel with said end face,and means affixed to said body through which said body is rotated aboutits rotative axis upon application to said means of rotative forces.

5. The rotary tool of claim 4 wherein said thin tough resilient slipperyshock-absorbent protective cap comprises a synthetic resin composition.

.6. A rotary tool .suitable .for use, in

connection with g power rotation dreams, in the removal of sealing puttyand the like from windows, said tool comprising a rotary body having anaxially perpendicular end face at the free end thereof and a series ofperipheral flutes extending along said body adjacent said free enddefining peripheral cutting edges, a shank rigidly attached to andextending coaxially with said body adapted to connect with powerrotation means, and a thin tough resilient slippery shock-absorbentprotective cap firmly affixed to the free end of said body, said caphaving peripheral notches in registry with the flutes in said body.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS331,338 Squire Dec. 1, 1885 6 Krueger Sept. 4, Canode Oct. 9, FrankSept. 9, Sieg July 15, Saunders May 22, Finn Jan. 16, Danbry July 26,Ross Nov. 15, Stanziale July 10,

FOREIGN PATENTS Great Britain Jan. 4,

